Shad~ Hinduism here I come! Also.....Sorry I missed the cat story. People must be the cruelest animal on earth. What a horror story. Glad Sunday has a good and loving home now.
Your exercising and house work must be doing wonders by now!!! My God Woman......what energy!! Jen, the 2 and the BF will be staying at HIS parents house and also a trailer they own in the "country". Imagine them coming here to me? But they will most likely come for a few hours at least once.

Happy~Funny you should mention St. Jude. A woman just told me that too!! I have had many hopeless cases before and they prayed to St. Jude for me. Guess it must be working. We have a "first Mass" here in the community room for them each month. The priest still comes, sometimes on Thursday instead!!! You sound like you and the DH have a jungle outside! I hope you're having a good time and it's warmer than here. All my windows are closed and I'm wearing sweats!!! Have fun. How goes the SBD? Did you start yet?

Teel~ Wish there was more I could say.......I find some generations are still of the old ways and will not budge. I wish you luck if you do decide to search. It's a shame you have no info. Is there a way to open the adoption file up with your health issue? or do you have to have a lot of $$ for that?
Don't let all this spoil all your wonderful plans for a happy and fun filled birthday month!!!

Nae~ Good to see you back and I loved the idea of the journal being passed back and forth. How great is that?! I have assorted journals and fill them in. I was wondering if I should save them for later on. Jen might get a kick out of them. Good luck with the new PC!!

Linus have we lost you or did I not go back enough pages?!?!? LOL

I'm feeling much stronger today. The weather is cold, windy and darkish. Rain on the horizon. maybe a good day to read/ Jen's bird is cranky and I threatened to stuff and truss him already before 9am! If I spend some time "petting" him maybe he'ss shut up! I'm off to get my snack first and then him!!! Have a wonderful weekend and take care.

Teel I hope you will be feeling better soon too. I just realized forgot to say that. Nasty things sinus infections. I hate them!! Good idea before flying too for getting rid of it. Good luck!!! Miss Antibiotic Lady!

Hey I spent time writing a nice long post and talking to all the gals when it wouldn't let me post it...... Then I tried to enter a journal post and forgot how..... I am wondering about my brain...anyway I figured it out and made an entry...so I will come back later and talk to you all again.... Hope everyone has a fun weekend...
Blessings,
Nae

Good to hear from all the ladies overnight.
Nae, sorry to hear about the ongoing problems with the computer. Sometimes though I think that it may be a bug or two in this site. When you post, do you use the quick reply or Go Advanced? Sometimes I think that for reasons unknown to this little brain, some of the tags stay open. That is that it doesn't always close a colour or a size or a url file name. Try clicking on the Close all tags button in the Go advanced section and then re post your entry. Always copy your entry as previously said to Teel. Then you can paste it back if the first one fails. Some of the ladies on other threads and in journals actually type their entry in Word and then paste it into the thread or journal. That solves the problem of copying the entry before Submit Reply but doesn't help if you want to put loads of smilies or pictures into your post. Other than that, I don't have a lot of suggestions, and we may have to put the question to Happy to come up with a better answer!! And if our own resident web person can't help then maybe refer it to Suzanne of 3FC - who I might add is very quiet lately. Haven't seen a journal post from her for a while. No doubt she is extremely busy and beavering along as she does.
Teel, as an adoptee, you will not get your original birth certificate until you open the adoption records. How do I know this - well my Sister went through this from the other end - she was the birth mother and was trying to find the child. So while I can talk about the process from the NZ end, I can't do much for your end. Those records can be opened. It remains to be seen whether you can contact the birth mother or not, I believe it can be quite traumatic and disheartening from time to time. My DSis got in touch with her child but it is a rollercoaster relationship and although she is 'in touch' with the child, there is only minute communication and a fair amount of distrust - for example the sis was invited to the childs wedding, but has only heard through the grapevine that she is now a 'grandmother' I think it hurts her just as much to know. So just be aware of what can happen and seek counselling - I think there was some consellor activities listed on that site. I personally think you should go ahead, but just be aware of problems that may be encountered. I might also be inclined to speak to your social worker as well! She may know where you can get started!
Happy - a butterfly bush? Do you mean a Buddleia Davidii? I have a couple in my garden, the dwarf variety as the buddleia can get very long and leggy. The dwarf variety is now taller than me I did have several, but they went to the great butterfly house in the sky. They do draw in butterflies I must admit - we had quite a few fluttering around during the summer. I hope you do not overdo it in the garden and that you are doing stretches to keep that back a bit supple.
I'm not sure you could call me an inspiration in the gym! More like the fairy elephant really. I can't say that I really enjoy it either. I go for (mainly) three reasons.
1. My body is better. I am not saying leaner, trimmer or devastatingly stunning. It is better because I can move it more. I am not so stiff in the joints, I can bend things further than they used to bend. My lungs are also better, I don't have some of the shortness of breath I used to have. This of course is a wonderful bonus.
2. I can feel muscle - particularly in the legs which are rock like. This of course means that the weight loss is still slow. You don't get muscles like these that weigh only a couple of grams on the butchers scale.
3. By going to the gym I achieve two materialistic things - it gets me out of the house but not down to the shops, and I get contact with other living beings and the DS is not breathing down my neck about wasting his money.
I do not get the so-called highs from exercise that people talk to me about. I don't feel happy and joyous while I am doing it - somedays it is more like - crikey, time does go slow when you are not having fun. I hate the killer step class and it annoys me that the others in the class can do it so much better than me - that they actually bounce their way through it. I know that I have a problem hearing the instructor at times being partly deaf and all - I wish someone would explain to me why the music has to be so loud that the instructor has to screech out the instructions. I feel unco-ordinated and clumsy. But I go because of the sweat out - maybe I should also invoke St Jude when I am doing a Step class. I don't mind the Bodybalance class as it is slower and I can hear better because the music is less heavy rock and more relaxation and I get a good workout really, it does stretch the muscles but doesn't really cut it as far as sweat goes. I find my balance is not so good particularly on the right leg. I'm hoping it will get better - as I am hoping for the step class. It can't get any worse so it's got to get better!! Right??? The rowing machine and treadmill I put up with and do. Can't say I get that much excitement out of them, I count down the minutes to finish. The only thing I really can say that I get out of them is when I better my own records as in calories burnt, distance covered, wattage produced or time taken to do it. I suppose my inward competitiveness invents guidelines for me to go by. Whatever floats your boat, I don't question it too deeply. I just go. With all the exercise, the good food and water, the weight is still very slow to come off. I am however losing - don't question this Shad just accept it. It's better than before!
So it is Sunday here Downunder. Our wondrous World Leaders have gotten together and put the world to rights according to their own beliefs and craziness, and are now gathered at the Normandy landing sites of WW11. So while the fat cats are all up top, those of us mice at the bottom of the world will take the day off to play. It's not a sunny morning here but the clouds break every now and again to give us a ray or two of sunshine. I am about to go for my challenge walk for the day. Then there is cleaning to do in this house. I spent most of yesterday cursing non-straight walls and tiling procedures and today I had best clean up the mess. I am considering putting a floating wooden floor in instead of the carpet and tiles previously anticipated but the cost will be fairly heavy. So I need to do some homework and decide whether I want to DIY it or get someone in to do it. Sometimes the time factor far outweighs the cost of doing it by yourself.

Anyway time to get off here and go do something. I best creep around for a while as DS is still sleeping off the class/school reunion he went to last night and if I want his help this afternoon, best not to disturb the sleeping giant with the vacuum cleaner this morning. Have a good day

hi all i found you all
well im here in sorts at the moment my heart and thoughts are winging there way to valkenburg just outside the german border but you will all be very proud of me i didnt cry until he was away and even only a few tears that would not stay in that was until i got back to my street and my neighbour across the road whos daughter has gone through school with craig but is going on a different trip {they get a choice of three} asked me if i was all right and then the flood gates opened but as i explained to my freind hes too far away to get to him quickly {i would get there eventuallly} and i miss him dreadfully and hes not even there yet!!!!!!!!he did call from reston when they stopped to change driver and told me to stop worrying as he was fine that kid knows me better than i know myself so that was at 12.50 am so i think **** be crossing through holland at the moment .Now where to start youve all been so busy TEEL if you are seriously considering this your first step is to contact social services when your birth mother gave you up for what ever circumstances shell have had the option of leaving things for you and they will still be held for you if she had ive known of one woman who has always left new details of where she is and how to contact her for over 35 years now but in this country its very much the adoptees disicion wether to make contact or not and its also totally private and left to your decision wether or not to make contact and in your case medically it would be a good idea even just for details if there is any and it would be your decision if you want to tell the parents or not back in a mo dogs just thrown up
cleo is missing her master and letting us all know about it
when we got back from seing him off last night the livingroom looked like a bomb had hit it and we soon discovered that con,s hamster had got out of his cage and cleo had been playing with it !!! it was in the livingroom behind the tv unit and was a wee bit soggy but seems to be allright this morning i had to set my alarm for 7 am so as i could get up and make sure it hadnt gone to that big wheel in the sky before conner got up SHAD cant see the pic dh has got that much protection on this comp that nassa s secrets would be safe in here i uppose with it being connected to his hes got that much stuff on his that he ahs to be safe but ill look for a pic of the abbey later loved the doggy thoughts and oh so true by the way when you all come for tea ill provide the scones who takes jam and who takes cream??? MEL ive had a thought that maybe the reason the chairs are so expensive is the fact that they make so many cock ups that they have to recoup there money from somewhere maybe you should get a job with the company and sort them out maybe a users prospective about how devistating these faults and delays can be to people they might buck up there ideas a wee bit HAPPY dont i just know how you feel it sticks in my craw when your body wont do what you want it to do what upsets me is the way my family and freinds have had to adapt we cant make long term plans as we never know how ill be and spur of the moment stuff is out of bounds as i have to plan all my medication so as i can actually do anything and dh says sometimes its just not worth asking !!!! ROSE glad the comps back we all miss hearing from you and your wee corner i know how you feel about the young ones taking over my ds has just started shaving has got feet the size of canoes and is now one inch taller than me and hes only fourteen now ladies im looking for ideas my birthday is on the 18 th and im being asked what i want for a present the choices are a new hard drive for pc a new bottle of prefume and a new ring so votes please as im stuck and the kids want to know so dad can give them the money by the way when did the smileys start moving ??? i thought it was drug induced but conner can see them too and as for the saga of the house too long to go into now but needless to say heads are rolling and i should have been re-housed two years ago
speak to you all later
kirsty

Good morning Ladies one and all! Hope Sunday is being a great day. Ours is dark and gloomy but i am better so i don't care!
Linus~ You made me spit all over my screen!!! When did the smilies start moving?!?!? ROFLMASOFF!!! I am still cracking up!!! OMG How funny this was!!! And I needed a good laugh! I hear you on the house bit. Good luck as our battles both wage on! We will survive!

Shad~ Nice exercising but I think it's time to tell the truth....you really go to look at all those lean and mean hard bodies!! Now admit it and you'll feel so much better! I am doing another NCC this week. I chose one I used last year many times. So it's not over doing it. Any news on the job front? It sounds like you need to go back to work so you can get a rest! Maybe construction work is in your blood. You could be a boss of a gang. Watch them all hang upside down trying to put the tiles on! Hope you're having sweet dreams right about now and not nightmares of tiles sliding out of place!
Happy~ I had a good laugh at the butterfly bush. I had to go back to your post after I read Shad's comment. LOL Let me know if any of them come to roost there!

Today is a MUCH better day for me. I have even chosen my goals for tomorrow and am ready to go. I feel a little bit lethargic but am hoping to shake that off today. I'll go to webshots and pedal to the pictures. Maybe Egypt again. I saw some maps at Pathmark but only city ones no global. Still thinking of madcat's idea about pedalling to Shad via a map! When we get a new bus I will have access to book stores. They want too much $$ for ship and handling so I will wait. In the meantime....How many miles would make 10 minutes so I could multiply them?! I need some help on this. Any ideas?! Hope you all have a great Sunday and take care!

[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=2]
Is the color and font really showing up....I don't understand sometimes how to use this blasted computer...Shad thanks for your help... I have usually used the post reply at the bottom of the last post...is that what you use for your posts?
Linus so nice to see you here and know you are still with us. I have taken a break from being outside working to check in with you ladies from around the world.... hope all is well with everyone....
Check back later,
Nae

Morning all. I slept in again today so am in a bit of a hurry again. I'm off to the gym for the killer step class once more. Get it over and done with - who knows one day I may get used to it. Heaven forbid.
Linus, good to see you back posting again. I gather this is the first time one of the chicks has flown the nest? You will get used to it I promise. Sounds like the housing department needs a bit of a bomb under them in your neck of the woods. You could just be the necessary fuse.
Mel good to see you back and cheery again and good on you for putting the foot down with a firm hand - so to speak. There is always more than one place to go to, more than one chair company etc. Stick with it girl.
Roseblush - Nae, if you open a command in front of a sentence then you must close them at the end of the piece you want to change {font = comic sans}HELLO{/font} I've made the brackets wrong so you can see what you have to do. You can use lower or upper case letters and no extra spaces like I put in. HELLO see what I mean. I generally use quick reply and type in any smilies that I want to use, but sometimes if I can't remember the name of the smilie I will go to the advanced part and open up the list. I did print off the list once, but in true fashion I have put it away in a place where I will not forget it!!
Happy must be once more talking aloud to us!!! No, she is all worn out from the gardening and the planting of the butterfly bush. I'll bet it is planted where the DH can poke a camera out of a window and take photos.
Okay, yesterday was a bit disasterous as far as exercise and work went so I can not waste today. I'm off to get dressed and go to the gym. Then it is back to the tiling. I don't think I did especially well on Saturday and may have to take a couple back off the wall. That could get exciting! On the other hand I may just leave them there for the eccentric look!

Hi all,
Quick post for me I'm afraid. VERY busy weekend. Spent all day Saturday working on the yard. When you let things go for years, it seems like it will take all summer to get it in shape again. Cutting, digging, moving, shopping, raking, weeding, - oof duh. Sunday I was out shopping with the clowns and idiots for 3-1/2 hours straight, running to the gardening stores to get some stone border blocks, look for pots and figure out how things will be arranged. More hauling and loading and unloading and bending. Then there were the groceries to be had. By the time I got home my feet will killing me, I could barely stand up. We had a quick dinner and I just had to sit for an hour and soaked my feet - they felt as if they were bruised. Tell me why the ONLY place you want to keep fat (on the bottoms of the feet) you lose while retaining it elsewhere all over the body?

Got back up again, gave the kitchen a good cleaning, packed away the groceries, made lists of all that I have and now it's way past the bedtime again. I won't be able to get back here until late tomorow night. This week there is something going on every single day. Not fun stuff, just stuff you have to do stuff.

So forgive my silence, I am thinking about you and talking to you all as I drive. And yes Shad, we got a dwarf white ball butterfly bush - the exact latin name you stated. I looked at the tag after you mentioned that and sure enough, that's it. I got 2 others today also but it's too dark to see the tags. Should be a nice layout I think. Too bad we can't see anything on that side of the house when we're inside Would have to pop my head out the patio doors, sure to scare anything away that might be grazing there. Some of these flowers are supposed to attract hummingbirds too. DH would just fall on the floor if they decided to hang around too.

I really have to get to sleep, have to get up early for a rare visit to the office tomorrow. Have a good day everyone. Hope you all enjoyed your weekend. Sorry I couldn't stay and chat...

Both, please!!! And can I have coffee and not tea??? Black with a sweetener!!!
And oh Linus, you made me discovering that your smilies do move!!
Hope Craig has a good time away in Germany and that you survive the week! Is it a week he has gone for??
Happy, your garden sounds a real treat and is sure to attract loads of "flying caterpillers!!!!Seriously I love butterflies, especially red admirals and the tiny blue ones...name escapes me right now.
Shad..would you feel happier swimming? I don't know whether it would be to any advantage health and fitness wise, but perhaps you might enjoy it more?
Roseblush, lovely to hear from you. Sorry you are having computer problems It is SO frustrating when you can't do today what you know you could do yesterday!
Last night my birthday celebrations started!!!:smug"! Freinds of mine bought tickets to see a Scottish Fiddle group called Blazing Fiddles who were appearing at The Theatre Royal in Bury St. Edmunds. The theatre was packed to bursting and they were very good, full of energy and excellent fiddle players. All came from Scotland somewhere...the Hebrides, Inverness and Oban. The girl said she had been playing for 24 years..apparently up there in the islands it is compulsory for every child to learn the violin in primary school! Good on them! So my birthday countdown has started!
Having my hair cut tomorrow! Having highlights as well!: It is YEARS since I had highlights put in...I remember I was going to visit my ex-BF's parents with him in Sunderland and I had my hair done in the morning!I remember all too well the "swimming cap" with the hairdresser pulling out strands of hair and me looking like a hedgehog!!
Well best go and do something with the day. Its warm...21 degrees. I thought we were due to have a storm or two yesterday...the sky was black and looked very storm gathereing, but I don't think we had any rain...unless of course I slept through it yesterday afternoon!!
Bye for now! Take care!
Love from Teel

Good Morning. And a fine dark morning it is here! jen's bird was rather noisy today and we all got up early. My 2 included. They are not used to "mom" uncovering them so early. We should all s;leep good tonight!
Tomorrow will be a busy day so I'll see you all Wednesday. Food shopping and then the election volunteering till 8pm if I can stay that long. A neighbor and I were asked to be challengers. but we must shop first we agreed. There is only one trip a week to Shoprite and that store is cheaper than the others.
Shad,I hope the step class went well. How did the tiling go? My bathroom next please?!
Teel~ the countdown is official now? Sounded like a great time with the fiddlers.
Nice friends you have.
Nae~ Hope the computer is sorted out and you have no more problems for awhile!
Jen is having them with my old PC and comes down here now!
Happy~ I would have also thought the bush would be by the window closest to Hubby's armchair where he sat with camera in hand ready to snap the pic!!!
Good luck on your busy week and see you when you can get here!

I feel stiff all over. hope it's just the weather. All the birds are sleeping now. Maybe that is what I should do! Have a great day and be happy!

TO: LINUS
FROM: MEL
RE:
I would love to attend your Tea Party. I have no favorites as I love all jams and jellies. I have never had a "real" scone before and would find this a real treat. Thanks for the invitations. I gladly accept.

There now. I thought that place by the lake would be just fine with all of us. Linus, I have my coffee black, hot and strong. Scones are fine, but I've sworn off white flour for my no crap challenge so if there are any wholemeal ones going (or pumpkin scones maybe) I'll stop off for a bite to eatas well.
It's been a dark grey day here too Mel and then we had this really fiery sunset. Now it is just blackish out there. Not too many stars but a tad cool to go out and count them.

Step class went okay Mel, thank you for asking. I didn't look at the clock for the first 20 minutes - that's a first. Normally I am getting a string of bad words together by the first 10 minutes. I actually managed to string a couple of routines together as well so maybe I am getting used to it. I've still got two left feet when it comes to leaping on and off that step tho' Sometimes I just forget the step and jazz around the floor - that way I won't miss the step or fall off it or get half on/half off and the step moves along the floor and I get the wobbles. Still someone's got to provide the amusement I guess. The Instructor loves dogs - she's just got herself a new blue heeler - so she can't be all bad!
Teel - I think the Blazing Fiddles were playing at the Edinburgh Festival when we were there in 2000. I seem to remember a fantastic group of musicians with a name something like that. I guess I didn't write it down as I can't find it in the diaries.

I guess it is time I was in bed. I've stayed up a bit tonight to see if it helps me to sleep better. I've been waking up all bright eyed and bushy tailed at 2.00am and not able to get back to sleep for ages. My supply of books is dwindling and I am getting tired during the day. It doesn't help. The job search is not going well at the moment. It's me for the missions if something doesn't turn up shortly. Monetarily I can survive and there is plenty to do round here, but I seem to be getting a touch of cabin fever or something. Time to find a friend to do lunch with - oh to be rich enough to be one of the 'ladies who lunch' Okay bed calls. Nighty night

Morning all, so nice to get up and read your posts in the morning along with my I would also like to join the tea party...... that just sounds delightful! Teel, you sound so good and Happy Birthday to you. Enjoy all the wonderful things coming our way this week. The group sounds so good, am afraid my violins are just gathering dust in their cases under my bed. This is my birthday month and as of yet have not really been too concerned about it.
I think the way it lands I will be working so no big deal.
I was up at 3 this morning Shad and saw you were online...couldn't sleep for some reason but then this morning I didnt'want toget up either. I just playeda few games til I felt sleepy again. I worked outside most all day yesterday so I have few sore muscles today too. And I have been good on my food and have not lost a thing infact I have gained.... but I am not going to let that stop my good choices this week........ I hope!
Mel, hope you have a good week and don't get too tired trying to help and take care of everyone else in the whole place. What kind of birds do you have? We use have some but my little turtles are easier to take care of for me...... not as much daily maintanace.
Looks to be a gorgeous day here so I best get busy....hope all is well with everyone and together we conquer our goals for the week!
TaTa,
Nae

treacle wholemeal and chocolate and fruit you name it i can make it wont make the jam though i love my pots too much to fry them {yes i burnt the arse out of the pot the last time i made jam} craig called last night so im a happy mummy again hes been away before just not so far its the ""how do i get to him if somethings wrong"" syndrome so ive just had to clean out his fish tank as we had a very large snail problem and i dont like using chemicals in the tank so im now wet smelly and bloody sore so im going to nip ***** and benjy out for a wee and have a shower so ill speak to you all tomorrow and weve decieded on the hard drive for my birthday and mum got me a lovely african dark wood vase and a hands up buddah and some lovely oval baskets that i intend to use as bins for my livingroom so my new design theme is taking shape as im planning on going a bit tribal not the colours im having creams and browns but the textures prints and fabrics i love leather fur and suede so im really happy i managed to find things to go with the scheme hubby says that with all the plants ive got the place looks like a jungle anyway my devils ivy is going across the ceiling
speak later
kirsty
ps nae has those tutles of yours finished off those poor wee fish yet ???? my abgels are now 8 inches from fin tip to tip so ill send them over to sort them out